Volunteers for the Blind Foundation: Shine Fine Detergent
Client: Volunteers for the Blind Foundation, New Delhi, India.
Voice over: Angelina Rai/Mindy Singh
Producer: Sudhir Datta
Company: I.T. Media Broadcasting (Vancouver, Canada)
Copywriter: Manu Chopra/Sunil Shibad
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteering can be undertaken individually or collectively. Volunteers can choose options based on whether they like to work directly (Visiting) or indirectly (Non–visiting) with the Blind. Individuals will be assigned responsibilities in accordance with their preference, as part of a larger team. Independent responsibilities will follow after they have become comfortable and confident. All Volunteers are given orientation and familiarisation training, prior to being assigned to work with the Blind. Sometimes a single blind person may be assigned a team of volunteers as support, although, the blind beneficiary interacts with only one person and feels only he is the mentor. The truth would be that the entire team works together for the future of the one person.
INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
Programmes for Visiting Volunteers
(Work with specified NGOs. The visits will be pre-planned and based on projects decided by the NGO. These will be a commitment, be time bound and not liable to change)
(a) Volunteers to act as mentors, tutors, escorts and friends.
- Academics.
- Improving knowledge – Books, Libraries, Internet.
- Build General Awareness in Current Affairs science, maths, environment, animals and nature.
- Build aspirations, plan for the future, career, family, relationships.
- Visits to offices, museums, exhibitions, cultural programmes, workshops, seminars, shopping or the bank, morning exercise, child’s birthday.
Skills - Nil
No needed - 10
(b) Volunteers act as advisors to the NGO in developing special skills: -
· Financial Management.
· HR functions.
· Library Management
· Event Management.
· Legal and Rights based issues.
Skills - Corresponding
No needed - 7
(c) Volunteers can help build Talent and Ability,
· Placement preparation.
· Improving English and communication skills,
· Performing Arts – Dance, Drama, Music, Singing.
· Presentation Skills.
· Personality Development and Leadership Skills.
· Management Techniques.
· Organise Games, Sports and Physical Fitness.
· Debating, Poetry, Writing.
· Computer and Internet literacy.
· Photography. (yes, the Blind do take up Photography)
We are currently negotiating a large nation-wide project with the YMCA. You could be part of it.
Skills – Corresponding
No needed - 10
Programmes for Non-Visiting Volunteers
(Work on telephone and Internet, from home or office. Not a time bound commitment)
(a) Volunteers to assist us with Networking.
· Develop Corporate and Govt contacts, influential people and agencies.
· Facilitate building public awareness about the Blind, fund raising,
· Recruitment of volunteers.
· Developing contacts, with possible donors.
· Develop appropriate databases.
You could put us in touch with organisations like the Nehru Yuva Kendra; the Rotary Club; the NSS organisation of a college; a particularly sensitive VP in your Company; a sensitive MLA; an NRI organisation; a popular radio channel; a blind person or merely a suggestion or an idea.
Skills - Familiarisation with computers.
No needed - 15
(b) Volunteers to act as coordinators for Projects in different cities.
· Supervise the work of Volunteers and interact with Blind persons.
· Interact with NGOs, Teachers, Resource Persons, Administrators, Govt agencies, private companies, influential citizens, donor agencies, volunteer bodies and team leaders.
· This programme will bring the largest possible benefits to the largest numbers of the Disabled.
· Background information, detailed briefings and databases will be provided.
Skills - Familiarisation with computers.
No needed - 30
.
(d) Develop Internet based opportunities,
· Finding information on NGOs, funding agencies, news, views, and forthcoming events.
· Developing corporate contacts and a database.
· Interacting with NGOs – National and International
· Income generating opportunities.
Skills - Familiarisation with Internet searches.
No needed - 5
(e) Employment and Placement. Help get a job.
· Creation of a CV, responses to Ads or on-line websites.
· Identification of training needs and finding a suitable course.
· Grooming and preparation for interviews.
· Interaction with placement agencies.
We are currently negotiating a large nation-wide project with the YMCA. You could be part of it.
Skills - Background in Placement or Training.
No needed - 4
(f) Building Knowledge.
· Access to Libraries (Govt, Public and private) and guidance in finding books, publications, articles, magazines, journals,
· Internet based searches, Google, Wikipedia.
· Compilation, collation and evaluation of notes.
· Using available technology applications.
Skills - Familiarisation with the Internet.
No needed - 4
Projects
(Get involved with our current projects; working from home or office)
(a) Books for the Blind. Assist with the development of an on-line Library with digitisation of books. It involves scanning and validation, using MS Word, on a PC.
This is the single largest opportunity in the coming decade and will need thousands of volunteers. Volunteers act as assistants, organisers and advisors. The project uses cutting edge technology.
Skills - Familiarisation with computers.
No needed - 30
(b) Disabled Armed Forces Personnel. Volunteers act as assistants, coordinators, organisers and advisors; especially with beauracratic contacts. The aim of the project is to persuade the Ministry of Defence to refine their existing policies to enable better quality of benefits for Disabled Personnel, nationally. Volunteering is open to all and not restricted to Armed Forces personnel.
Skills - Familiarisation with Min of Defence procedures and policies.
No needed - 4
(c) Higher Education. Volunteers act as Resource Persons to prepare a plan for any university or college to adopt. Institutions of Higher education are willing to take on Disabled students. However, they are unsure of the resources required to be put in place or the costs involved. The aim of the project is to develop a skeleton document which can be handed over to the Institution, anywhere in the country, thereby bringing clarity for decision-making.
Skills
· Familiarisation with Educational procedures and policies.
· A background with the MHRD / UGC / IGNOU / College education.
No needed - 4
(d) Undertake escorting and coordinate summer camps and adventure sports. These camps bring multiple benefits for personal growth and development. The blind need the same advantages. Volunteers will escort the Blind on such camps. The blind undertake trekking, rock climbing, mountaineering, rafting, The French are preparing an all blind team to climb Everest from
Skills
· Familiarisation with summer camps and Adventure Sports.
· A background of Sports organisation (not essential).
No needed - 3
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(e) Develop a Brochure, Banners, Posters and a Website for this Foundation.
Skills
· Familiarisation with computers.
· Designing and Writing.
No needed - 2
(f) Develop a programme for the elderly blind or for blind infants. Volunteers will need to visit the person frequently and may have to read for them or run errands or escort them for visits to the doctor.
Skills - Be interested in the elderly or in infants.
No needed - 4
(g) Development of Technology Applications. Volunteers will need to be well versed in IT applications. As they become familiar with the needs of the blind, ideas for developing new applications will begin to emerge. Volunteers will be put in touch with Research bodies enabling scientific development. Volunteers will represent the blind users in this process.
Skills - Familiarisation with technology for computers.
No needed - 2
(h) Vocational Training in the Garment Industry. The aim of the project is to develop a document which acquaints a Garment Factory Owner with employment opportunities for the Disabled. Volunteers will assist develop the document, with obtaining NIFT Certification, with contacts to develop training and employment opportunities on a national scale.
Skills
· Familiarisation with Garment manufacturing procedures and policies.
No needed - 4
CORPORATE and COLLECTIVE VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
(a) Undertake Training. The concerned department undertakes the training, which needs to be customised for NGOs. We, in the VB Foundation, would assist in formulation of content.
· Organisational concepts,
· Finance and HR Capacity Building functions,
· Rights and legal issues;
· Planning and Strategies.
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Skills
· Relevant to the topic.
No of training teams needed – 1 per Company, per topic undertaken.
(b) Senior Volunteers (CEO / MD)
Can guide /
§ Strategies, Planning and conceptualising the structure of the Organisation
§ Organising, assessment, evaluation and leadership abilities.
§
§ PR,
§ International Interaction.
Do this individually or collectively. When undertaken collectively, the blind beneficiary or the NGO concerned only interacts with one person and is unaware that an entire team is developing its future.
Skills
· Relevant to the topic undertaken.
No. needed – one per CEO.
(c) Assign Employee Volunteer Teams
Each team will have a team leader, a clear cut task and a deadline. These will be worked out jointly, in consultation with this Foundation and the HR Dept. Team leaders will report progress to the Sr. Mgr. (HR).
(d) Support computer literacy
· A PC is the only available tool for a blind person to read and write independently. This renders basic computer literacy as crucial to all blind people.
· Donation of H/W and S/W (Desktops, laptops or accessories).
· Assign volunteer Teams to teach basic literacy.
No. needed – 1 team per company.
Contact Person: Col. P. Kapoor
Designation : Hon General Secretary
Address : D7, Defence Colony,
E mail : vftblind (AT) yahoo.com
Tel : (+91.22) 246.939.65.
The organization has Members and Volunteers. They are spread across the country.
